Five big questions on David Clifford ahead of final after Tyrone exhibition
Clifford shot 1-9 as Kerry cruised past Tyrone and into the All-Ireland final and leads the betting ahead of Donegal's Michael Murphy for the game's most prestigious individual honour.
Only one player, fellow Kerryman Jack O'Shea, has been named Footballer of the Year more than twice, with the great midfielder carrying away the Texaco version of the award 1980, '81, '84 and '85.
At the very least, Clifford is shoo in for a sixth All Star, regardless of what happens in the final against Donegal. At just 26, he has every chance of setting a new mark in the long-running awards scheme.
Another Kerryman, Pat Spillane, has the most All Star awards in football (nine), while former Kilkenny hurler Henry Shefflin holds the outright record (11).
Was it his best ever display?
As good as it was, probably not. The 1-9 that he compiled was not even his biggest of this Championship campaign and is four points fewer than the 3-7 tally that he posted against Cavan in the preliminary quarter-final last month, albeit the opposition was stiffer on Saturday.
But Clifford might well have surpassed that total as he missed a couple of two-point efforts and fluffed goal chances in either half. So, worryingly for Donegal, there is still room for improvement.
And, of course, the RTE panel decided that Clifford wasn't even the best player on the pitch on Saturday, with the official Man of the Match award going to Joe O'Connor after another huge display from the midfield powerhouse.
Was it the biggest ever tally in an All-Ireland semi-final?
No, that record belongs to Cillian O'Connor, who amassed an incredible 4-9 in Mayo's win over Tipperary in the 2020 semi-final.
It's worth nothing that 4-3 of O'Connor's tally came from play, with a further 0-6 from frees. Clifford's total was bloated somewhat by the fact that he hit one two-pointer, a sensational score, which has only been introduced to the game this year, while he scored 0-4 from single-point frees.
His 1-9 is also three points fewer than Matt Connor's 2-9 for Offaly in the 1980 All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry.
It was his biggest tally at senior level in Croke Park, though short of his 4-4 against Derry in the 2017 All-Ireland minor final.
Who will mark him in the All-Ireland final?
Jim McGuinness will surely hand that job to Brendan McCole.
The Donegal full-back is one of the best man-markers in the game and on Sunday successfully negated the influence of Meath's Jordan Flynn, who was rampant in the Royals' quarter-final win over Galway.
However, as numerous observers have pointed out, containing Clifford is far from a one-man task and providing some sort of extra cover for McCole and limiting Kerry's kicking game will be high on McGuinness's priority list coming into the final.
Are Kerry over-reliant on him?
Probably, but then that's always likely to some degree with a player of his talent.
Still though, as difficult as it might be, if Donegal can limit Clifford to manageable proportions then they'll have gone a long way towards winning the All-Ireland final.
Of the 15-175 (220) that Kerry have scored in their eight Championship games, Clifford accounts for 8-53 (77). That's 35% of their total - more than one-third.
Donegal have a much greater spread having had 12 scorers in their win over Meath, compared to seven for Kerry against Tyrone.
Can he be the creator?
With Clifford likely to be commanding the attention of not just McCole, but drawing other defenders too, can he exploit the space that will naturally open up elsewhere for his teammates?
The Fossa man's vision isn't just limited to where the goalposts are these days and he has matured from his early years, when his shot selection was questionable at times.
His playmaking abilities are not to be understated and, in a game of tight margins, it could be crucial.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
GAA unlikely to punish Donegal and Meath for early parade departure
The GAA are not expected to take any action against Donegal and Meath breaking early from the parade before Sunday's All-Ireland SFC final. Although players are required to stand to attention for the entirety of Amhrán na bhFiann, there are no match regulations against counties not finishing the entire duration of the parade, which starts and end at the Hogan Stand. On Sunday, Donegal moved away from the parade behind the Artane Boys's Band before it reached Hill 16 and Meath follow suit soon afterwards. Prior to last year's All-Ireland SFC final, Armagh similarly broke away into a group as Galway continued to walk in single file behind the musicians. The only regulations pertaining the parade state that in hurling helmets should not be worn for it and for both codes 'the team captain shall lead the parade and only the 15 players commencing the game as per official team list may march in the parade, in team jerseys and numerical order.' However, the protocols around parades, which take place before provincial finals and All-Ireland semi-finals and finals, could be reviewed by the Central Competitions Control Committee for next season. Last week, three Kilkenny players joined their team in it late having been in the dressing room after warming up. This year, the GAA's public announcers have read out a message before the anthem asked supporters to respect the entirety of it. However, players continues to move away before the song has finished. In 2021, a regulation was introduced insisting teams 'stand to attention respectfully facing the flag for the full duration of the anthem.' Referees were instructed not to commence the game for at least 30 seconds after the end of the song so as to allow teams huddle prior to footballers and hurlers taking their starting positions. Meanwhile, Brendan Cawley is the leading candidate to officiate Sunday week's All-Ireland SFC final between Donegal and Kerry. The Kildare native took charge of the Kerry-Armagh All-Ireland quarter-final as well as Donegal's Ulster opener against Derry. Sarsfields man Cawley was the man in the middle for the Galway-Donegal All-Ireland semi-final last year and was stand-by referee/linesman to Seán Hurson for the Galway-Armagh final. If he is appointed, he will follow in the footsteps of fellow Kildare men such as Seamus Aldridge (1978), Tommy Howard (1993) and Mick Monahan (2005).
Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
GAA to face awkward DJ Carey decision during Sunday's All-Ireland Hurling final
GAA organisers will have to make an awkward decision regarding DJ Carey before Sunday's All-Ireland final with the 2000 All-Ireland winning Kilkenny team set to be honoured. As is tradition, the victors from 25 years ago return to Croke Park on the day of the All-Ireland final with each panel member's name read out individually while they are invited to receive applause from the Croke Park crowd. The ceremony, which takes place before the game, will typically mention those in attendance. DJ Carey was part of that 2000 winning team and was named Man of the Match for his performance on the day. However, the GAA have been left with the headache as to whether to announce Carey as part of the Jubilee Team or not. The five-time All-Ireland winner recently pleaded guilty to 10 counts of defrauding a number of people out of money while pretending he had cancer. The 10 counts Carey pleaded guilty to involved a total of 13 complainants, including Denis O'Brien, Owen and Ann Conway, Mark and Sharon Kelly, Aidan Mulligan, Tony Griffin and Christy Browne, Thomas Butler, Jeffrey Howes, Noel Tynan and Edwin Carey. Given that Carey is now awaiting sentencing for the charges, GAA organised are now in the unenviable position of deciding if they are to break from tradition by excluding a member during the Jubilee announced, and it is highly unlikely that Carey will attend the honours. Carey made his debut for Kilkenny in 1988 and played up until 2006 and undoubtedly goes down as one of the game's greats. Carey won 10 Leinster Senior Championship medals to go along with his five All-Ireland titles as well as four league titles and a Player of the Year gong in 2000. The ex-Kilkenny forward also collected nine All-Star awards during his career, trailing only Henry Shefflin with 11. Cork and Tipperary meet in this Sunday's All-Ireland final with throw-in set for 3.30 pm.
The 42
3 hours ago
- The 42
'We all have our roles' - Donegal's long-serving point-scoring machines remain pivotal
IN THE 44TH minute of yesterday's All-Ireland semi-final, a Donegal attack into the Davin End goal culminated with a scoring flourish being applied. It was a typical team move, possession transferred at high speed with the ball-carrier constantly supported by clever angles of running from team-mates. And it was rounded off by the team's talisman hooking a close-range shot over the bar. Michael Murphy reigstered his sixth point of the game with that kick and Donegal's 15th. With Oisin Gallen having broke the Meath resistance for the opening goal two minutes previously, Donegal were eight clear and firmly in command. The Donegal support cheered jubilantly when Murphy pointed, just as they did for every other contribution he had made in the game, and then they rose in acclaim a minute later when the fourth official board went up to signify number 14 was being withdrawn. Murphy, Donegal's leader, was replaced by Patrick McBrearty, Donegal's captain, who would go on to notch three points and ensure his fingerprints were all over Donegal's attacking output for the remainder of the game. In that change, Donegal illustrated the range of attacking options they possess and the depth they can tap into in their panel. Jim McGuinness spoke afterwards about how it 'had been a hell of a long road back' from the misery of their defeat at this stage of the championship last year at the hands of Galway. At the time in his immediate reflections on their second-half fadeout in that game, McGuinness touched on the need to begin the process of improvement on the bus home to the north-west that evening. Advertisement After their destruction of Meath, the Donegal manager revisited that topic and stressed the increased strength of their panel had facilitated the transformation from two-point semi-final losers in 2024 to twenty-point semi-final winners in 2025. All year Murphy has offered reminders why the decision was made for him to return to the demands of the inter-county game last November, two years after his retirement. Murphy and Donegal have slipped back into a comfortable relationship, and in the county's quest to reach the All-Ireland showpiece forn the first time in 11 years, and only the fourth time in their history, his role was of fundamental importance. Two minutes into a match, which was bristling with anticipation beforehand as the expectant fanbases whipped up a storm, Murphy posted the opening score, gathering a ball on the loop and kicking confidently between the posts. Meath got a couple of lifts that underdogs require, a Ruairi Kinsella point here, an Eoghan Frayne point there, to edge into a slender lead. Nine minutes in and Donegal get a free within two-point range. Facing into a Hill 16 packed with a baying Meath mob, Murphy blocked out the noise and strode up before slotting the shot that prompted the waving of an orange flag and the restoration of Donegal's scoreboard advantage, 0-4 to 0-3. They never trailed again for the remainder of the game. The opening period provided snapshots of Murphy's immense value. The winning of the break off a Meath kickout that paved the way for Ryan McHugh's 12th minute point. Nailing the 28th minute free after Oisin Gallen was fouled. Getting on the end of Donegal's last move of the half that unlocked the Meath defence, but seeing his left-foot blast fly over rather than under the crossbar. Murphy was the last Donegal player to jog out of the tunnel to take up position for the start of the second half. He only last nine minutes, but added another score, before being withdrawn. The timing of the exit seemed unusually early, but despite murmurs of an ankle knock, McGuinness was quick to quell such talk. If the focus was to rest up ahead of the final date with Kerry, it was understandable. A couple weeks out from his 36th birthday and 13 years after lifting Sam Maguire as captain, his value to the Donegal cause is simply immense. His array of gifts – fetching kickouts, converting frees, clipping scores from play, directing offensive operations – make him indispensable for Donegal. The addition of Murphy to the attacking mix meant someone else was going to lose out. Once news of his comeback filtered through, the intrigue lay in how Donegal would get the chemistry right in their inside forward line. Patrick McBrearty has been the focal point for years. Oisin Gallen was an All-Star last year and fired 1-2 yesterday. Conor O'Donnell is in the All-Star conversation this year and bettered Gallen's tally with his 1-3 return. There is a dilemma in how to fit them all in. Right now the solution Donegal have settled on is holding McBrearty in reserve. For a forward of his experience and talent, along with the status of captain, it's not an easy position to get accustomed to. He hit the ground running yesterday, emerging from the bench to join a dominant Donegal team. In the 47th minute he snappily exchanged handpasses with Shane O'Donnell, gliding clear before sweetly striking over a point in that familiar kicking style. He replicated that finish for another point seven minutes later, moments after sharply releasing the ball to Peadar Mogan who rushed through to point. McBrearty's third score arrived on 57 at the close of another pacy team move and a minute later he shaped to shoot before laying off to Jason McGee, watched the ball travel to Gallen and in to Conor O'Donnell who booted home their third goal. The impact of McBrearty was glaringly evident and yet will it be persuasive enough to secure him a starting jersey for the final? 'You have three lads who are flying there,' summarised McBrearty afterwards. 'We all have a role in the team and my role at the minute is just coming in off the bench and it's to lift the energy in the lads in the last 15 minutes to blast it out. I came in with 20 or 25 minutes to go and try to move the bus up forward. We all have our roles and trying to get on the ball and getting shots off and just carrying the can. 'It's a big difference than starting the games. I came in a really, really good time today. We had just scored the goal and we had a big wave of momentum and just coming in and trying to work hard.' Related Reads Jack and David have decided that this state of affairs will not do. At all. McBrearty has enough games stockpiled to absorb the wisdom of how roles can change. He started the 2012 final win over Mayo, came on as a sub in the 2014 decider against Kerry and bagged two points. The years since have been frustrating and disappointing. 'When we left here 2014, I didn't think it would be 2024 until we reached our next semi-final. We massively, massively underachieved from '14 to '24 basically, in our eyes. When Jim came back, standards were raised back to where they were and we're just delighted to be back here, but you know they were a barren couple of years. 'We were winning Ulsters, teams were tipping us to go on and win All-Irelands and we couldn't do on the big days. Getting this man back obviously for that and getting back to days like this two weeks is gonna be massive.' There are only two playing survivors now at the disposal of McGuinness from the magical breakthrough Donegal enjoyed in 2012. Whether pressed in from the start or sprung from the bench, Murphy and McBrearty will be pivotal characters again on Sunday week. *****
